“The fact that we have maintained our top-25 ranking for more than a decade is a testament to the outstanding work of our faculty and staff, who strive to provide the best educational experience possible for our students,” said Clemson President James P. Clements. “I am very proud of our ranking, but even more importantly, I am proud of the positive impact we have on our state and the difference we are making in the lives of our students.”

For its annual rankings, U.S. News measures institutions’ performance on 16 measures of academic quality as well as on how they are perceived by their peers. The rankings emphasize outcomes, with graduation and retention rates accounting for 35 percent of the score. The top schools all have high six-year graduation rates and strong freshman retention rates.

“To be ranked again as one of the top public universities in the country is well-deserved recognition for our faculty and staff, who work so hard to make Clemson University’s academics, facilities and experience the best for our students,” said Robert Jones, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “We can all be proud of this accomplishment.”

U.S. News noted Clemson is the 11th “most innovative” school among all national public universities based on nominations from top college officials of schools that are making the most innovative improvements in curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology, or facilities.

Clemson is ranked third among national public universities in percent of alumni giving at 22.9 percent, well above the average of 7.9 percent at the 184 universities included. In 2016, Clemson raised more than $1 billion in its capital campaign, the most ever achieved by a public university with an alumni base less than 150,000.

In its rankings, U.S. News said Clemson:

is among the best colleges for veterans,

is recommended by high school counselors,

has a commitment to undergraduate teaching, and

is among the best value schools.

U.S. News also recognized the College of Engineering (29th) and College of Business (49th) among the best at national public universities.

When private and public universities are measured together, Clemson University was tied for 66th among all national universities.